Anatomy & Physiocoly Lab: Part I 2. Why did she have a fever? Why was there swel
ID: 41359 • Letter: A
Question
Anatomy & Physiocoly Lab: Part I
2. Why did she have a fever? Why was there swelling of the wrists and ankles?
3. What do Julie?s varicose veins have to do with his condition, if anything?
4. Did her behavior on the flight have anything to do with the incident? Sleeping medication? Missing meals? No water?
5. What life-threatening condition might Julie have been experiencing on the plane? What complications could have arisen if Julie had not received emergency medical attention?
6. Why did Julie feel chest pain and the collapse?
Julie, a 50 yo female, was traveling on a transatlantic overnight flight returning home from a ski vacation in the Alps. She was sitting in coach next to a stranger. Not feeling like talking; she decided to take a sleeping pill, used her noise canceling headphones and an eye-mask and fell asleep. She slept through the night missing both meals and did not awaken until early the next morning when she felt the need to go to the bathroom. She felt very stiff from having sat in one position for so long and her legs felt heavy and "asleep" and "hot". As she rose and made her way down the aisle to the bathroom she began to feel a sharp pain in her chest as if someone were stabbjng her with a knife and the feeling of "a rope wrapped around her middle". She also felt a dull burning, aching sensation especially when she tried to take a deep breath. Both arms were acheing and she felt discomfort in her neck, jaw and back. She began to feel short of breath and could feel her heart racing. She feel anxious and clammy and began to sweat. In just a few seconds she began to feel dizzy and light-headed and faint. After crying out for help she passed out and collapsed to the floor. The flight crew began CPR as the plane began to land. An ambulance met the plane and Julie was rushed to the hospital. Upon examination the following was charted:Body temp: 100.1 F BP was 140/90 HR was 120 Respiration rate was 22 and extremely labored Hemoptysis No swelling of neck or lymph nodes No apparent nausea or vomiting Warmth, tenderness, swelling and redness of the lower left leg Swollen wrists and ankles Varicose veins on both legs Recent bruises on both legs, one arm and abdomen AnxietyExplanation / Answer
1. Julie's condition can be diagnosed as heart attack.
2. The increased blood pressure raised the body temperature resulting in fever. The wrists and ankles were swollen because of improper blood supply due to sitting in same position throughout the night.
3. Varicose veins is a condition in which the veins are swollen and do not efficiently carry the blood to heart. In this case the weak blood supply to heart due to varicose veins is also a factor causing the heart attack.
4. Yes, the sleeping medication without meals and water cause the blood glucose levels to drop and increase the blood pH resulting in ketone body formation that may cause respiratory arrest and heart failure.
5. Respiratory arrest and cardiac failure are the life threatening conditions faced by Julie in the flight and if emergency medical attention is not given she could not survive any more.
6. The improper blood supply to heart increasing the blood pressure in the arteries caused the chest pain and short of breathe made her to collapse.